I've noted that I like building wagons and most of these are from kits - Parkside, Cambrian and the like. Nice though these are there is always scope for further variety and scratchbuilds and kitbashes - not that I build much as it falls out of the packet - provide this. The queue on the length of track that sits above my workbench currently includes no fewer than four of these: a couple of specialist coil types and this, an SR-designed, BR-built shock-high. I'm starting with the the shock-high, purely because it's close to being complete and ready for painting. Well, it will be once the solvent has gone off. The choice of prototype, by the by, was purely based on having the Masokits etch for the brake gear in stock. I hadn't realised when I started it, but dad built one of these himself about 35 years ago. I'm not certain we really need another, but it's done now...

The techniques aren't anything especially novel - Geoff Kent's wagon books will describe them - and as an open box on a spare set of Parkside solebars, it offers few challenges beyond a bit of patience. A short string of progress shots should give an idea. The prototype information came via Dave Larkin and Paul Bartlett while the drawing was found in SR Wagons, vol. 4

Hah! Very kind of you I'm sure. Those boltheads are just the thing for wet September afternoons with the T20 World Cup in the background! I've dug out a couple of pictures of some of the others. A pair of Coil S conversions from pre-nationalisation designed highs for carrying rod coil, and a Coil H, a rather elaborate - and quite short-lived - mid-60s conversion of a BR-built Pig Iron vehicle, apparently for carrying coiled tinplate from Trostre. The Coil H is now a bit more advanced but I haven't put it in front of the camera again.

The hood actually looks a bit better than that - I've since smoothed the edges on it.

The Coil S have actually gone backwards: I've broken a couple of bits while they were in storage. Since one of these will be modelled loaded and sheeted, much of the above solebar detail will be hidden. Despite that, it's going to be a real pain to do since the coils of rod will probably have to be done properly as I reckon they will be visible under the sheet.

While I think of it, a quick note on inspiration. It's one of those words you see time and again on forums, but generally - in my view - it seems to be used as a synonym for 'desire'. That is, 'I want to do what he/she is doing' or 'I wish I had the skills to do what he/she/it has done' as a substitute for actually taking what has been shown off as a hint to produce something of their own. To illustrate this point, a couple of examples of why I spend my spare evenings mucking around with solvent and bits of plastic and brass.

Dad made a batch of four china clay tippers goodness knows how long ago, but probably in the early '70s, decades before the Ratio kit. I seem to remember that he told me the 'clayhood' was based on the prototype conversion of the breed. Being based in Cornwall/Plymouth at the time, these were probably modelled from transparencies (since lost) taken by him at the time and made from plasticard and metal toothpaste tube and the limited range of castings and bits then available from the trade (probably the EMGS and Kenline). This no doubt explains the GW and modified LNER axleboxes on what were BR-built wagons. Would you notice? For the Plymouth club at the time - steeped in the pre-war GWR - this was all a bit radical: now, it's relatively mainstream. There was a scratchbuilt (plasticard on Tri-ang DMU bogies) Pressed Steel single car and a rail blue class 22 as well. He still has the latter in a box somewhere and it's pretty respectable even if the Tri-ang motor bogie it had was feeble. The wagons are still in use.

This is a much more recent - and more esoteric - vehicle. One of Mr Bulleid's experiments and probably one of the better ones: the fibreglass PMV on a skeleton chassis. Barring the buffers, handwheels, wheels and couplings (and possibly the 'W' irons) this one is completely scratchbuilt. Dad's pretty modest about these things but wagons like these, and his encouragement, really do inspire me to have a go at making something that bit different.

While I think of it, a quick note on inspiration. It's one of those words you see time and again on forums, but generally - in my view - it seems to be used as a synonym for 'desire'. That is, 'I want to do what he/she is doing' or 'I wish I had the skills to do what he/she/it has done' as a substitute for actually taking what has been shown off as a hint to produce something of their own.

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I think it's one of those words that is actually losing any meaning, at least in the hobby's context, because of overuse (and that was happening way before it was conscripted as the strapline for a certain publication). As with 'm*d*rn im*ge', I dont think there's an answer to be found by simply substituting another word, but I tend to think in terms of 'motivation' for something that actually makes me shake myself and do stuff. As for what goes on in the minds of those who 'desire', but never actually try anything, I wouldnt like to guess.

Steve - since the model is in Somerset - it was built and belongs to my father after all (I claim no responsibility, barring the mediocre photo) - and I'm in Southampton, detail pictures are going to have to wait. The shot below is the only other one I have. As for proximity to the prototype, you'll have to dig out a copy of Gould's book on SR non-passenger coaching stock. I think they built 10 of them altogether, full of Bulleid ideas to save material, hence the low tare weight. I still think the model is one of the best things dad's done, though the chain-driven diesel bogies (in 4mm) pip it in engineering terms. No, I don't have any pic's of those...

Ian - since 'motivation' for my actually doing modelling at the minute tends to be relaxation from work or another rained-off Cricket fixture this summer, that word has almost taken on negative connotations, albeit of a personal nature! I don't get too hung up on the means of describing it, but the tag of 'inspirational' [You''re right 28ten, a whole other fish kettle] strikes me as too pat. Perhaps because I'm a historian in the day-job, at the moment, and labels are both the basis and the bain of the profession, I tend to use the same mental approaches to interpret what I'm building. It's knowing how to make things or working out where a model can follow the prototype or where it's best to deviate that takes the skill rather than whether it's derived from thing a or thing b. Take the hood on that Coil H, for example. It would be very difficult if not impossible to get a sheet material to look like a full size canvas. My attempt with Miliput simply emulates what military modellers have been doing for years but isn't inspired by that.

It looks even better in that photo Damn fine piece of scratchbuilding
Tissue and thinned pva seems to be the favoured method amongst AFV modellers for taupaulins at the moment, I have never tried it, but I have seen some nice examples.
I do agree on the misuse of the word inspiration btw

Good to see that despite all the excellent (and not so excellent) kits and the vast array of RTR wagons available there are still scratchbuilders out there.
Excellent work although the thought of cutting up and applying those rivets made me go all cross-eyed

Thanks CJD. Yep, all in EM (other 4mm scale/gauge combinations are available ). I don't do a lot of scratchbuilding - there simply isn't the need - but it does make a refreshing change and will yield something different. Eventually.

I don't do a lot of scratchbuilding - there simply isn't the need - but it does make a refreshing change and will yield something different.

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I think this is the thing with 4mm. The state of play now is that expending too much effort on the more common wagons just isnt a sensible use of scarce time, as they're either available already, or likely to be. This wagon is however a good example of one that will pass under the radar; I've recently found myself thinking in much the same way and have (with some help from a friend) identified one project that similarly I think will slip through the RTR gaps.

Quite so Ian, though there is a danger of ending up with trains full of specials! When even the Soda Ash version of the LNER steel high, Covhops and every design of SR-built brakevan can be had RTR you know you have to be careful in your choices, not that I'm complaining. That said, specialist types, like the various Coil conversions from the very late '60s which were relatively tightly confined, geographically, or anything built in penny numbers (most SR designs then...) are probably safe enough. I quite fancy a BR(S) Ferry open at some point and I can't see that anyone is likely to go as far as producing one of those, though I'd be delighted to be proven wrong. That, however, rather depends on being able to get the right buffers, I reckon I can do just about everything else!